The Greens' hopes of forming government with Labor have hit an all-time low in Victoria, with Premier Daniel Andrews slamming the minor party's culture.
Mr Andrews has cited a "massive cultural problem" in the Greens continuing to stand behind Footscray candidate Angus McAlpine, who once rapped about date rape and domestic violence.
"The fact that their candidate for Footscray is still their candidate and that their leader stood up with him yesterday condoning the vile behaviour and attitudes that he has - then and now - I refuse to take that political party seriously," he told reporters on Wednesday.
Mr McAlpine performed the raps under pseudonym FatGut with hip hop group Broken Aesthetiks.
He has since said he is "deeply sorry ... for the offence, the degradation, the humiliation and the triggering that those lyrics that I once performed have had on anyone who's heard them".
Mr McAlpine said he subsequently moved overseas in 2012, aged 23, to escape a culture of "toxic masculinity and cheap crude humour of a hip hop culture" and was ashamed of the lyrics.
But Mr Andrews argued the Greens' decision to endorse such a candidate reveals their true character and "fake values".
"The Greens political party cannot be trusted to be a partner in delivering the family violence reforms we have championed because they've got a massive cultural problem in their own outfit."
Mr Andrews has repeatedly ruled out power-sharing with the Greens, despite the minor party's eagerness.
The election is shaping as a showdown between the two in some inner-Melbourne seats, particularly Richmond where the Liberals are not fielding a candidate and so will not direct valuable preferences toward the incumbent government.
The premier visited Bombardier's Dandenong factory on Wednesday where he pledged $340 million to replace old trains on the Geelong and Ballarat lines if Labor wins.
He said a re-elected Andrews government would order the 18 VLine trains in 2019 for delivery by 2021.
The project will also support 500 jobs in Victorian's southeast, which takes in the marginal seats of Cranbourne and Frankston.
"This is all about making sure regional passengers have the most reliable service, more services more often, and creating Victorian jobs along the way," Mr Andrews said, before setting off for Ballarat to announce 1000 new car parks for the city.
Labor also pledged to install 160 mobile phone charging ports at eight Melbourne train stations.
Victorians go to the polls on November 24.
Australian Associated Press
